What Matters Most
The primary goals of geriatric care focus on improving health, maintaining independence, and enhancing quality of life for older adults. These goals often include preserving cognitive and physical function, minimizing pain and suffering, preventing hospitalizations and nursing home admissions, and supporting the individual's personal values and preferences. It's crucial to remember that these goals are individualized and can vary based on the patient's specific circumstances, including frailty status, functional limitations, and personal preferences
Suggested E-Books
Vital Talk
- Vital TalkVitalTalk makes communication skills for serious illness learnable. Their evidence-based trainings empower clinicians and institutions.
Goals of Care
- Goals of Care Coalition of NJ The Goals of Care Coalition of NJ (GOCCNJ) is a partnership of leading healthcare providers, government agencies, and community organizations. Our mission is to help patients get the care they need and no less and the care they want and no more. We provide valuable tools and information to help facilitate conversations about medical decisions at the end of life.
- Goals of Care Conversations Training This training program consists of flexible, interactive modules to help practitioners improve their skills in delivering serious news and discussing goals of care and life-sustaining treatment decisions with seriously ill patients. It is intended for practitioners who care for patients with serious illness in outpatient, inpatient, long-term care, and home care settings.
Initiating Discussions about Goals of Care
goal setting gallery
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Effective Communication
Effective communication is essential when conversing with older patients. Skills such as the use of clear and simple language, active listening, patience, empathy, respect, and knowing when to involve caregivers or family are vitally important. Learning and understanding your patient's priorities for care will facilitate a relationship that they can trust.
- An App to Improve Physician-Patient Communication Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Improving Patient-Physician Communication American Psychological Association